diff --git a/config/PETSc/options/installDir.py b/config/PETSc/options/installDir.py
index 92f190d..047c85b 100644
--- a/config/PETSc/options/installDir.py
+++ b/config/PETSc/options/installDir.py
@@ -41,12 +41,6 @@ class Configure(config.base.Configure):
       self.dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(self.framework.argDB['prefix']))
       self.petscDir = self.dir
       self.petscArch = ''
-      try:
-        os.makedirs(os.path.join(self.dir,'PETScTestDirectory'))
-        os.rmdir(os.path.join(self.dir,'PETScTestDirectory'))
-      except:
-        self.installSudoMessage = 'You do not have write permissions to the --prefix directory '+self.dir+'\nYou will be prompted for the sudo password for any external package installs'
-        self.installSudo = 'sudo '
     else:
       self.dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(self.petscdir.dir, self.arch.arch))
       self.petscDir = self.petscdir.dir